Soon to be released bracelets with technology from Intel Corp and design cues from fashion brand Opening Ceremony will connect the wearer with Facebook, Google and Yelp via an AT&Tdata plan,no smartphone necessary.

Called My Intelligent Communication Accessory, or MICA, the snakeskin bracelets are aimed at fashion-conscious women and are an attempt by the two companies to stand out in a growing field of often-clunky smartwatches and fitness brands that have yet to catch on widely with consumers.

“We really approached this first and foremost about why would a woman want to wear this everyday, and how can it be incorporated into her wardrobe,” Humberto Leon, creative director at Opening Ceremony, said in a phone interview last week.

As well as lapis stones, obsidian and an 18k gold coating, the devices include a sapphire curved screen on the inside of the wrist that displays text messages, calendar items and events from Google and Facebook, and recommendations of nearby restaurants and stores from Yelp.

After Intel was late to smartphones and tablets in recent years, Chief Executive Brian Krzanich has been determined to make sure the top chipmaker is at the forefront of future trends in mobile computing.

Krzanich gave the green light for the chipmaker to develop the bracelet with Opening Ceremony after his wife wore a prototype for several days and liked it, he recently said.

Incoming alerts discreetly vibrate the bracelet instead of making a noise. Its $495 price tag includes a two-year data plan with AT&T, which means it does not rely on a smartphone for connectivity, as do most smartwatches, the companies said in a press release.

As well as working with Opening Ceremony, Intel in March bought fitness bracelet maker Basis Science and it has teamed up with watch retailer Fossil Group to develop other wearable computing devices.

Obsidian Entertainment, best known for their recent release of Fallout: New Vegas, are working with Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of South Park. The collaboration is to produce a new RPG title based on the long-running cartoon series.

The new South Park RPG title is a joint venture between Viacom, South Park Digital Studios, Obsidian, and publisher THQ. The game is slated for release in the second half of 2012 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC platforms.

Details are sketchy, beyond saying that the new RPG title will let players take on the role of a new kid at South Park who must make friends and defend the town from a number of threats. The team at Obsidian has extensive experience developing RPG titles, so the new offering could prove interesting. The new South Park RPG title sets out to deliver a new and unique kind of South Park experience that is different from previous other South Park video game offerings.

Bethesda’s RPG Fallout: New Vegas has generated over $300 million in retail sales since launch.

That’s across Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and “a heavy volume of digital downloads” according to the publisher, with five million units shipped globally.

“We are delighted by the reception Fallout: New Vegas has received from fans around the world,” commented Vlatko Andonov, president of Bethesda Softworks.

“Despite the large launch quantities for this title, we have already received substantial re-orders from our retail partners, underscoring the tremendous popularity of this highly entertaining game. We believe Fallout: New Vegas will be the ‘must buy’ title for gamers throughout the holiday season.”

The game was well-received by the press on release, but has been plagued by a number of bugs, leading Bethesda to work on a “comprehensive” patch due shortly.